GLOCESTER – A former Glocester police officer who came in sixth among candidates in 2020 for the five member board was sworn in this week to fill a vacancy on the Glocester Town Council.
David LaPlante was tapped to fill the seat previously held by Town Council President Julian Forgue, who died on Monday, Dec. 27.
LaPlante served as a Glocester Police Officer for 20 years, retiring as captain in 2006. He currently serves as moderator on the Harmony Fire Department Board of Commissioners.
According to the Glocester Town Charter, “any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled by the qualified candidate for council with the next highest vote total from the last general or special election.”
LaPlante ran as an independent in the 2020 contest, coming in sixth behind Republican Stephen Arnold with 2,777 votes.
Forgue, a Republican who was serving his second term on the council and his first as president, died last month at the age of 70.
The new member must be sworn in within 30 days of certification by the Board of Canvassers and LaPlante was originally to take the oath of office at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 6, but the gathering was postponed.
It was held via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 11, for the agenda found here.
The meeting included a moment of silence for Forgue before the swearing in ceremony. Town Councilors acknowledged the loss on the town’s website.
“We thank Jay for his dedication serving on the Town Council and his hard work for the town of Glocester,” the post notes. “We will deeply miss his friendship.”
LaPlante thanked the town for the opportunity to serve in a post on social media.
“I will do my best to keep Glocester the great town that it is,” he said. “The circumstance that led to my appointment is sad. I will honor Mr. Forgue’s legacy by serving out the remainder of his term with honesty and integrity.”
LaPlante fill will the remainder of Forgue’s two-year term, which expires next December.
Editor’s note: The above article was updated following the Tuesday night meeting.
